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About this project

Last summerI published The Sugarman Bootlegs, the story of a simple You Tube hoax gone horribly,
lethally wrong.

It was my eighth novel, and the first in a new series I’ve undertaken: wry, twisted horror comedies, inspired by the films of Alfred Hitchcock — but with a 21st Century edge and an acid gay sensibility.

Now I’m ready to tackle the second novel in the series.

Baby is the story of
Marcus Hyde, a fussy, tidy, dapper gay man of 53; he lives happily alone in his
sprawling Art Deco apartment. But after the failure of his business, he bows to
the humiliating necessity of moving in with his sister Pamela. She’s a slovenly
woman, with a great slobbering dog who’s always knocking things over and
pissing on the rug. It’s Marcus’s idea of hell. But he has his own little room
to retreat to, his sanctuary of wood soap and hospital corners. And it’s only
temporary, till he gets back on his feet.

What he hasn’t realized, however, is that Pamela is
pregnant. Soon she’s huge, gassy, smelly, moist...all to Marcus’s utter
disgust. She’s also unmarried — in fact uncoupled — and seems unconcerned about
the absence of anything resembling a father on the scene. Eventually Marcus
realizes he’s been recruited to fill that role.

And when Baby finally arrives, Marcus feels the full horror
of his situation. While everyone else coos and gurgles over Baby, and remarks
on how beautiful he is, Marcus has to concentrate on breathing. Never in his
life has he seen anything more horrifying: a scarlet, steaming, screaming lump
of raw greed and unchecked will, with yellow eyes and fingernails like teeth.
Baby kicks and shrieks and vomits up sulfuric bile and his head lolls about as
though he’s drunk on sheer malevolence, and everyone but Marcus is utterly
enchanted.

Marcus can’t bring himself to look at Baby.

And Baby…Baby can’t seem to stop looking at Marcus.

Then things start happening…terrible things. Things that
never happened before Baby came along. And as disaster closes in on him, Marcus
realizes that to save his life and sanity…Baby must go.

◊

If I can raise $2,000, I can set
aside an entire month to do nothing but plunge into Baby, shutting out the big, bad world and getting enough
of the initial writing done that I’ll have momentum to finish the novel by autumn — even after I let the big, bad world back in.

If I can raise more than $2,000, I can afford to finish the novel in
record time, and throw in some more tasty incentives as well. But two grand is
the absolute minimum I need to get this baby off the ground (pun intended). So take a look at the list of incentives I've got for you...and let's build ourselves a community, here!

Thanks…look
forward to collaborating with you!

FAQ

Have a question?
If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

Rewards

Pledge $5 or more

My personal thanks and esteem, and your name listed as a contributor on my website, robertrodi.com

Estimated delivery:Apr 2012

You selected

Pledge $10 or more

4 backers

My personal thanks and esteem, a .pdf copy of BABY when it’s finished, and your name mentioned as a contributor on the acknowledgments page of BABY

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $12 or more

6 backers

My personal thanks and esteem, an e-book of BABY when it’s finished (choose Kindle or Nook), and your name mentioned as a contributor on the acknowledgments page of BABY.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $15 or more

1 backer

My personal thanks and esteem, an e-book of BABY when it’s finished (choose Kindle or Nook), an e-book of THE SUGARMAN BOOTLEGS (choose Kindle or Nook), and your name mentioned as a contributor on the acknowledgments page of BABY.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $18 or more

1 backer

My personal thanks and esteem, an e-book of BABY when it’s finished (choose Kindle or Nook), an e-book of THE SUGARMAN BOOTLEGS (choose Kindle or Nook), your choice of an e-book from the ROBERT RODI ESSENTIALS collection (choose FAG HAG, CLOSET CASE or WHAT THEY DID TO PRINCESS PARAGON, Kindle or Nook, and your name mentioned as a contributor on the acknowledgments page of BABY.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

9 backers

All of the above, plus a signed copy of THE SUGARMAN BOOTLEGS trade paperback (international backers add $10 for shipping)

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $45 or more

5 backers

All of the above, plus a signed copy of the BABY trade paperback when it’s published (international backers add $10 for shipping)

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

0 backers

All of the above, plus an additional signed copy of BABY (so you'll have two in copies total) (international backers add $15 for shipping)

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $85 or more

1 backer

All of the above, plus a signed copy of a volume from the ROBERT RODI ESSENTIALS series: your choice of FAG HAG, CLOSET CASE, or (to be published this summer) WHAT THEY DID TO PRINCESS PARAGON. (international backers add $15)

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $100 or more

9 backers
Limited (31 left of 40)

All of the above, plus your name featured on the first page of one of BABY’s chapters, as that chapter’s Official Sponsor. (First pledge at this level gets Chapter 1; second gets Chapter 2; and so on.) (international backers add $15)

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $125 or more

1 backer

All of the above, plus naming privileges for one of the novel's supporting characters, appearing in at least one chapter (provided the name isn't ridiculous or obscene—no Titty McFartbag, for instance).

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $150 or more

0 backers

All of the above, plus a 30-minute Skype chat with me (or, if you live in Chicago, a coffee date) during which I will personally express my utter gratitude

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $200 or more

0 backers

All of the above, plus—if you live within 50 miles of Chicago—I will come to your book club and discuss whichever of my books you like. If you live outside Chicago, I will attend your book-club meeting via Skype.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $500 or more

0 backers

All of the above, plus your name listed on BABY’s dedications page (usually reserved for the author’s very nearest and dearest…which for this level of commitment, is what you’ll be to me)

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $1,000 or more

0 backers

Three signed first editions of BABY, a listing on the dedications page, and your inclusion in the novel as a supporting character, appearing in at least three chapters (your role and other details to be worked out between us)

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

Funding period

Mar 26, 2012 - Apr 25, 2012
(30 days)

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